The Festival Day 3

We woke up and it looked like Sturgis outside. Apparently there was also a biker’s mecca going on today so needless to say the area was busy. We made our way to Old Hastings and secured a spot on a highway sidewalk on the road The Stag was on. After waiting about a half hour the drums started to echo from down the street and the crowd around us was electrified. Jack rounded the corner and it was a wall of green. Jack led the parade but right behind him were all the Morris Dancers from the Saturday. Some danced while marching, some stopped and did a show and others just marched. Everyone in the parade was heavily costumed and really really into it, it was fantastic. The pictures really are the best descriptors. After the parade passed our current location we headed over to Hastings High Street to assume another spot since the head of the parade was probably already starting down it. We managed to find a spot perched on some steps and out of the quick down pour that happened. Again, the parade passed through, Jack’s Morris (guys in white) dancing along and the rest of the parade a little less organized and tiny bit tipsy. The parade took a break for a little while for lunch, which was perfect because we were starving. A pub was selling bacon sandwiches in the street and we grabbed one and damn it was good! We hurried up to a pub grabbed a drink to go and enjoyed the passing sunshine. Oh, we also asked a one of the parade goers (Jack’s Bogies) to help add a little green to our faces. Mission accomplished! We took up a spot right alongside the parade route and watched the continuation of the procession to the hill. The parade was far less organized and most of the marchers had drinks in hand but it was all the more fun. After they passed we went up to the hill, watched the parade finish their march into the castle and then we headed back down into the New Town for a little bit. The actual slaying of Jack was at 3:30 and it was only 1pm so we wanted to grab some cash for the entrance fee to the castle. We got inside the castle and of course the atmosphere was festive with lots of people and lots of beer drinking. All the Morris Dancers were on a stage doing their routines in an attempt to entice the Jack, who was standing on a hill, to come down to the stage to be slayed. Pictures.